Curriculum for the Major in Communication Arts
Students majoring in Communication Arts must complete 42 hours of courses in Communication
with a grade of “C” or higher, including the following categories:
Communication Arts Majors must complete the following 10 courses (30 hours).
COMM 150 | Introduction to Media Studies and Mass Persuasion
A writing and speaking intensive introduction to communication arts theory and research, with
an emphasis on analyzing mass media messages and understanding their underlying cultural and
historical contexts. 3 semester credit hours. Writing Intensive Course. Typically offered: Fall and
Spring Terms.
COMM 207 | Editing for Publications
Introduction to the principles and practices of editing for books, magazines, and newspapers.
Prerequisite: WRIT 102 with grade of “C” or higher. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered:
Fall Term.
COMM 208 | Layout and Design for Publication
Graphic design principles and professional processes are emphasized. Print projects may include
organizational identity, response, advertising, newsletter, book/magazine, and other projects,
using InDesign. Online design principles are introduced to enable design of a simple website. 3
semester credit hours. Typically offered: Spring Term.
COMM 209 | Newswriting and Reporting
Principles and practice in gathering and writing news as well as preparing copy for publication.
Prerequisite: WRIT 101 with grade of “C” or higher. 3 semester credit hours. Writing Intensive
Course. Typically offered: Fall Term.
COMM 235 | Photojournalism
Teaches the skills in creating and evaluating images for photojournalism purposes.
3 semester credit hours. Typically offered: Periodically
COMM 253 | Public Relations Writing
Focuses on writing for print and online media. Students prepare news releases, newsletters and
feature stories. Prerequisite: WRIT 102 with grade of “C” or higher. 3 semester credit hours.
Typically offered: Fall Term.
COMM 254 | Writing for the Electronic Media
A practical course designed to expose students to the various approaches, forms and techniques
of writing for the electronic media. Prerequisite: WRIT 102 with grade of “C” or higher. 3
semester credit hours. Typically offered: Spring Term.
COMM 257 | Digital Video Production
Laboratory course introducing students to the technical and aesthetic principles utilized in
recording and editing digital video. Course fee: $50. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered:
Fall Term.
COMM 317 | Mass Media Law and Ethics
Examines the many legal and ethical issues related to the mass media. Prerequisite: WRIT 102
with grade of “C” or higher. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered: Spring Term.
COMM 393 | Senior Portfolio
Required of all Communication Arts majors, this course is designed to help the student improve
the appearance, content, and organization of their Senior Portfolio. Prerequisite: Senior
Standing. 3 semester credit hours.
Communication Arts Majors must also complete one of the following courses (3 hours).
COMM 337 | Advanced Journalism Writing
Students practice the major styles of journalistic writing beyond newswriting: public affairs
reporting, feature writing, magazine writing and editorial writing. Prerequisite: COMM 209. 3
semester credit hours. Writing Intensive Course. Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 353 | Advanced Seminar in Writing, Editing, and Page Design for Publications
In this seminar, students work on a major publications project, engage in critical reading of
media content, discuss writing, editing and page design strategies, have drafts of their work
critiqued in class, and develop a professional portfolio of the work. Prerequisite: COMM 150,
COMM 207, COMM 208, and COMM 209. 3 semester credit hours. Writing Intensive Course.
Typically offered: Periodically. Department Consent Required.
COMM 381 | Multimedia Production for the Web
Students experiment with a variety of web based materials utilizing applications from text and
visual media. Prerequisite: COMM 208, WRIT 102. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered:
Periodically. Department Consent Required.
Communication Arts Majors must also complete one of the following Communication electives.
(3 hours).
COMM 221 | Introduction to Public Relations
A survey of the professional practices, theories, core values, ethics, issues and problems of
public relations in private-sector, government and not-for-profit organizations. Introduction to
theoretical and practical aspects of persuasion, issue analysis, media campaign planning and
strategies. Prerequisite: WRIT 101 with a grade of "C" or higher. 3 semester credit hours.
Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 250 | Masters of the American Cinema
A historical study of representative fiction filmmakers from D.W. Griffith to Spike Lee. 3
semester credit hours. Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 251 | History of Film
A cross-cultural study of the development of the cinema from its late 19th century origins to the
present. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 252 | Technical Writing
A practical course designed to train students for various fields that require technical writing
skills - engineering, computer science, industry. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered:
Periodically.
COMM 256 | International Film
A study of the film form as seen in the most important films produced outside the United States.
3 semester credit hours. Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 263 | Advertising Copywriting
Covers the fundamentals of writing copy and designing advertising for all forms of print and
electronic media. Prerequisite: WRIT 101 with grade of “C” or higher. 3 semester credit hours.
Typically offered: Spring Term.
COMM 264 | Sports Journalism
This course is designed for students to adapt skills learned in COMM 209 toward a variety of
sports environments and applications. The students will write press releases and do hard news
reporting, and be informed of the inner workings of the sports communication environment. 3
semester credit hours. Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 265 | Sports Broadcasting
Students will apply basic skills learned in COMM 254/255 to a variety of video and multimedia
applications. Emphasis will be on writing effective broadcast sports stories, conducting
professional interviews, and covering sports beats on campus. Students will also produce
multimedia stories for inclusion in the University’s online newspaper. 3 semester credit hours.
Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 291 | Topics
Study of aspects of communication on the intermediate level not listed as regular course
offerings. May be repeated. Prerequisite: WRIT 102. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered:
Periodically. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed 99.
COMM 297 | Internship
Practical experience in public relations, electronic media, journalism, advertising or multimedia
supervised by the Communication Arts department. Up to three internship hours may be applied
toward the 39 hour major requirement. Up to 12 hours may apply toward the 120 hours for
graduation. Prerequisite: Consent of internship coordinator, department chair, and at least 3.0
G.P.A. 2-6 semester credit hours. Typically offered: Annually. Department Consent Required.
Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed 12.
Communication Arts Majors must also complete one of the following 300 level Communication
electives. (3 hours).
COMM 353 | Advanced Seminar in Writing, Editing, and Page Design for Publications
In this seminar, students work on a major publications project, engage in critical reading of
media content, discuss writing, editing and page design strategies, have drafts of their work
critiqued in class, and develop a professional portfolio of the work. Prerequisite: COMM 150,
COMM 207, COMM 208, and COMM 209. 3 semester credit hours. Writing Intensive Course.
Typically offered: Periodically. Department Consent Required.
COMM 387 | The Literature of Journalism
Traces the development of the literary genre in journalism from the 18th century essays of
Defoe, Steele and Addison to the “new journalism” of Wolfe and Capote. Prerequisite: WRIT 102
with grade “C” or higher. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 391 | Topics
Study of aspects of communications on the advanced level not covered in the above course
offerings. Prerequisite: COMM 207, COMM 208, WRIT 102. 3 semester credit hours. Typically
offered: Periodically. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed 99.
COMM 398 | Internship
Practical experience in public relations, electronic media, journalism, advertising or multimedia
supervised by the Communication Arts department. Up to three internship hours may be applied
toward the 39 hour major requirement. Up to 12 hours may apply toward the 120 hours for
graduation. Prerequisite: Consent of internship coordinator, department chair, and at least 3.0
G.P.A. 2-6 semester credit hours. Typically offered: Annually. Department Consent Required.
Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed 12.
Communication Arts Majors must also complete one of the following 300 level Communication
courses. (3 hours).
COMM 385 | Television and Society
An in-depth investigation of the television industry and its impact on American and world
culture. Prerequisite: WRIT 102 with grade “C” or higher. 3 semester credit hours. Typically
offered: Periodically.
COMM 386 | Media and Government
Examines major theoretical models of a central problem in mass communications from historical
and cross-cultural perspectives. Prerequisite: WRIT 102 with grade “C” or higher. 3 semester
credit hours. Typically offered: Periodically.
COMM 388 | Studies in Film Theory and Criticism
Selected topics in film theory and criticism. 3 semester credit hours. Typically offered:
Periodically. Course Repeatable. Maximum number of units allowed 9.
COMM 390 | Images of Men and Women in Advertising
A critical investigation of how we are influenced in the way we think about gender and gender
relationships. Prerequisite: WRIT 102 with grade “C” or higher. 3 semester credit hours. Typically
offered: Periodically.